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Surgical Excision of Melanoma

Surgery Overview

Surgery to remove (excise) a
melanoma removes the entire melanoma along with a
border (margin) of normal-appearing skin. The width of the border of normal
skin removed depends on the depth of the melanoma. More tissue, usually
skin and fat, is also removed from under the melanoma.

Small excisions may be closed with stitches and
heal without problems.

Large excisions or those located on the
hands, face, or feet may require a
skin graft to close the wound after surgery.

The type of anesthetic used for your surgery depends on the size
and location of the melanoma. Surgery on small, easily reached melanomas may
require only a
local anesthetic, while surgery for larger melanomas
may require
general anesthesia.

What To Expect After Surgery

Recovery after surgery to remove a melanoma depends upon the site
and extent of surgery. The wound may take longer to heal if reconstructive
surgery techniques such as
skin grafts are used.

Why It Is Done

Surgery is the most common treatment for melanoma. Sometimes lymph nodes may be removed at the same time to check them for cancer. Surgery also may be done to remove lymph nodes that have cancer or to remove tumors that may have spread to other parts of the body.

How Well It Works

Surgery to remove the melanoma usually cures melanoma if it is found early. Surgery may cure melanoma if the cancer is only in the nearby lymph nodes.

Surgery may be used to treat metastatic
melanoma. This only cures the cancer in a few cases. But surgery may provide the most effective and longest-lasting relief of
symptoms.

Risks

Risks of surgery to remove melanoma include:

Infection.

Scarring.

Bleeding.

Rejection
of skin graft.

What To Think About

Your doctor may need to do a biopsy (sentinel lymph node biopsy) of the lymph nodes near the melanoma to see if the cancer has spread (metastasized). The biopsy will be done before or during surgery to remove the melanoma.

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